Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions“… And that in case of a deliberate, palpable, and dangerous exercise of other powers, not granted by the said compact, the states who are parties thereto, have the right, and are in duty bound, to interpose for arresting the progress of the evil, and for maintaining within their respective limits, the authorities, rights and liberties appertaining to them.” -The Virginia Resolution The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were passed by the states of Virginia and Kentucky in 1798 in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. Republicans hoped on the reversal of these acts through state legislation. The Federalists, who had just increased their majority in Congress and wanted to shut out Republican opposition, created the Alien and Sedition Acts. The Alien Act made it harder for foreigners to become American citizens and it also strengthened the power of the President in dealing with foreigners. It discouraged immigration and encouraged foreigners to leave who were already in the country. The Sedition Acts allows the government to prosecute those who were involved in sedition against the government. This made it possible for the federal government to prosecute anyone engaged in treasonous activities, however, the activities were subject to varying definitions.
Republican leaders, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison secretly wrote the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, respectively. They argued that the federal government had no authority to exercise any power other than what was stated in the Constitution. The resolutions insisted that the federal government had been formed under a contract between the states and only possessed certain powers. If all parties of the contract felt that the government exceeded those powers, they had the right to nullify unconstitutional federal laws.
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions written by Madison and Jefferson
Sectionalism
Although only Kentucky and Virginia passed the resolutions, many believed that states had the power to nullify, or invalidate, congressional legislation at a time when the Supreme Court had not yet fully established its right to do so. The resolutions highlighted the idea of states rights, or “popular sovereignty,” which became major causing factor of the Civil War. In the years before the Civil War, the South was vociferous in the fight for states rights. Claims that states had the right to nullify any federal law stemmed from growing sectional conflicts over slavery.
-The Virginia Resolution
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were passed by the states of Virginia and Kentucky in 1798 in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. Republicans hoped on the reversal of these acts through state legislation. The Federalists, who had just increased their majority in Congress and wanted to shut out Republican opposition, created the Alien and Sedition Acts. The Alien Act made it harder for foreigners to become American citizens and it also strengthened the power of the President in dealing with foreigners. It discouraged immigration and encouraged foreigners to leave who were already in the country. The Sedition Acts allows the government to prosecute those who were involved in sedition against the government. This made it possible for the federal government to prosecute anyone engaged in treasonous activities, however, the activities were subject to varying definitions.
Republican leaders, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison secretly wrote the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, respectively. They argued that the federal government had no authority to exercise any power other than what was stated in the Constitution. The resolutions insisted that the federal government had been formed under a contract between the states and only possessed certain powers. If all parties of the contract felt that the government exceeded those powers, they had the right to nullify unconstitutional federal laws.
Sectionalism
Although only Kentucky and Virginia passed the resolutions, many believed that states had the power to nullify, or invalidate, congressional legislation at a time when the Supreme Court had not yet fully established its right to do so. The resolutions highlighted the idea of states rights, or “popular sovereignty,” which became major causing factor of the Civil War. In the years before the Civil War, the South was vociferous in the fight for states rights. Claims that states had the right to nullify any federal law stemmed from growing sectional conflicts over slavery.